27/11/2019- Wednesday - At Bangalore.

Aparna's P. O. V:

" Aparna come down! Look who is here! " My mom shouted from downstairs.

I tied my hair into a lazy bun and went down.

The familiar laughter of my dad was heard echoing through the living room.

Liam Uncle and Agnes Aunty were in a laughter roll with my dad, reminiscing their old memories. As they saw me, they both looked surprised.

" Hello dear! How are you? " Uncle asked.

" I am fine Uncle. How are you? " I asked back.

" We are fine, only Michael seems to be unhappy though, after you left the firm. " He said and I knew who was behind this sudden visit of my dad's best friend.

" Even I don't understand why Aparana suddenly decided to quit the job. " My mom said sitting on the sofa near to them.

" Michael was so worried about you " Aunty said and I laughed at the ironic situation.

" We have an early birthday present for you. " Uncle said and took out a jewel box from his bag.

" No, Uncle, really, I happy that you remember it. I don't need any presents. " I said defending.

" Michael specifically selected the design for you. Please accept it. " Aunty said.

" It is disrespectful to reject the present Aparna. " My mom said joining them.

" Okay, thanks Uncle and Aunty. Convey my gratitude to Michael too" I said and got the jewel box from them.

I opened the box with shaky hands, knowing this was all Michael's plan.

The box had a very beautiful diamond necklace, slightly bigger in size. It had emeralds in them, green being the favourite colour of Michael. I gulped hard looking at the necklace.

" Do you like it? " Uncle asked piping in.

" I don't know what to say " I said, quite shocked.

" What was the need to buy such an expensive gift! " My dad asked Uncle.

" Don't blame him, it was all because of our son" Aunty said laughing.

" It looks so beautiful, your son has really good taste " My mom said looking at the necklace.

" That he definitely has, doesn't he Aparna? " Aunty asked looking at me. My face would have looked like a red tomato at that moment. I was trying to control the boiling anger inside me.

" If you would please excuse me, I would keep this safely inside my locker and I have some works to look into. See you soon, Aunty and Uncle. It was nice having you. Thanks for your wonderful present. " I said.

" We will definitely see you soon! " Uncle said. I smiled at him and walked upstairs.

As I closed my door, I stashed the jewel box into my cupboard and was walking to and fro inside my room.

I was tensed, too tensed.

My phone rang, and it was a call from an unknown number. But I instantly knew who it was.

I picked the call and started shouting.

" What is going on inside your retarded mind? " I asked.

" Chill, baby. Relax first. We are talking after a month and you shout at me right after picking the call. Bad manners " He said slyly.

" What do you want? " I asked.

" We both know what I want. Keeping that aside, did you like the necklace? " He asked.

" It would be stupid of you to think that you can woe me with these cheap ideas! " I said.

" Say that to my face " He said and I slowly turned to look at my balcony. There he was, the devil in disguise. His innocent eyes were gone. He looked like a different person altogether.

" That necklace cost me 18 lakhs and you called it cheap! What are you? Princess of Mysore? ,Open your fucking balcony door " He said through the phone.

I shook my head looking at him. I was shaking nervously, unable to control my fear on looking at him.

" I can always walk right through your front door. You know that. I swear I am only here to speak. " He said.

I shook my head again.

" Okay, fine. I would be a gentleman today. I just wanted to look at your face when I say it. " He said through his phone

" Say what? " I asked.

" Next week, my parents will come to your home to talk about your engagement, sorry, our engagement. And your parents are going to accept it. " He said. I felt as if the land beneath me might as well crack and swallow me in.

" Don't be too shocked. I thought you would come back to me. But now, I am scared. Trust me, you scared me. I saw you in the Hospital, with that boy. Thankfully he is engaged. But still, it scared me. You know me, I hate taking chances. " He said. I was rewinding all my memory inside the hospital, but didn't see his face anywhere at all, and it started scaring me more.

" Technically, you pushed me into this. " He said laughing.

" I am not going to marry you. " I said.

" Oh dear, We can start our own firm,just as you wanted! ,I think your mom is already okay with our engagement. Your dad knows me too well. It wouldn't be a problem at all. " He said.

" You can dream whatever you want. I am never going to accept. " I said folding my hands.

" Dance all you want. When your battery dies, remember the key is only with me. If you want your carrier to not be buried alive, you know what to do " He said.

I wasn't able to tell him a reply. I was suddenly absorbed into the association issue and removal of my name, all because of him.

" See you soon! " He said and jumped out of the balcony. I cut the call and threw the phone onto my bed.

I was pulling my hair out, not knowing how I was going to face this.

After making sure that, he has left. I opened the balcony door. As I expected, Michael was standing in the backyard below, looking at me.

" You and me, this need not be this way you know. " He shouted at me.

" Yeah, you are right! But you messed up everything! " I shouted back.

" Can't you just love me back? We can start afresh !" He asked.

" I am done Michael! " I shouted and walked back inside my room.

I picked up my phone and rushed downstairs.

" Where are you going? " Mom asked.

" I am going to Prerna's " I said.

" That aside, do you like Michael? " Mom asked.

" What? " I asked shocked.

" If you marry him, your life will be settled! " She said smiling.

" I don't want to marry him, store that inside your mind! " I said and rushed out.

I started my car and drove to Prerna's apartment.

I ran to her house and knocked the door.

Rajiv opened the door and looked at me.

I walked in searching for Prerna.

She was resting on the sofa. I sat near her and started crying.

" What happened? " She asked confused.

" That Michael, he, he is planning to push mom and dad for me to marry him. I can't face him. I need to get out of here! " I said.

" Where will you go? " Prerna asked.

" Somewhere, I just need to get out of here soon! He was stalking me! " I said.

" I have a suggestion " Rajiv said sitting opposite to me.

" What is it? " I asked rubbing away my tears.

" This may sound insane and as if I am being selfish, but I think it would be good for both you and him. " Rajiv said.

" For who? " I asked confused.

" Shiva. " He said.

After hearing his name, I shook my head, what the hell is happening now!

" What do you mean? " Prerna asked Rajiv.

" You know right, he has almost flunked his firm experiment! The loan officers are knocking his office for return.Amma and Appa are making fun of him. And I know about Aparna and I feel, she can help him with his firm! " Rajiv said.

" It might save both of their careers! " Prerna said smiling. I looked at Prerna signalling that I won't go there again.

" Look Aparna, take this risk, just one more time. You can escape from the Michael shit here! , and I know you are capable of helping my brother out. I know I am always asking too much from you. But please save him! Be there for two months,that's all I am asking." Rajiv said.

I suddenly remembered Shiva's words, that he wanted to suicide. And that moment I decided that, for the sake of love that I had for him, I should help him.

Rather than facing the torture of Michael, I could face Shiva, for one last time.

" Okay! But under one condition." I said.

" What is it? " Rajiv asked.

" If you want me to go there, you are going to help your brother out of his loan first. " I said looking straight at Rajiv.

" He won't accept the money! " Rajiv said shaking his head.

" Then buy the shares of his company! Do something! You are his brother first, if you can't stand him being treated as a joke material, then do something about it! " I said.

" She is right. We both should help him out of his loan first. " Prerna said to Rajiv.

" Do it only if you really want to. " Prerna said to me.

" And if I clear off his loan, would you help him? " Rajiv asked.

" I will do what I can do! " I said.

Those words were my only option, agreeing to go back to someone, whom I had to let go.

Rather than dying by jumping from a flying air plane, dying from a sinking ship felt a lot easier.

To save myself ,as well as him.